Bristow & Sutor Reviews 

880
•
TrustScore 1.5 out of 5

1.3

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Evaluating 153 reviews, most reviewers were let down by their experience overall. Customers frequently stated that interactions during payments and urgent debt collections were challenging. Consumers also found it extremely difficult to communicate with the business due to unhelpful customer service representatives and unresponsive phone lines. Some people were satisfied with specific staff members who provided friendly, professional, and helpful assistance during stressful situations. Reviewers noted that these particular representatives clearly explained the process and genuinely helped them navigate their payment plans. These positive interactions provided a welcome change from the otherwise frustrating communication challenges experienced elsewhere.

What people talk about most

Payment

Users describe negative interactions with payment, expressing frustration over inflexible demands and... See more

Customer communications

Consumers find customer communications to be a source of deep frustration, with reviewers frequently... See more

Response time

Customers felt immense frustration regarding delayed response times, noting that emails and phone calls were... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Can’t contact them unless a case number. These idiots keep posting letters through my door, for another street near by, that even the correct property has the street sign on saying ‘X STREET’ how inco... See more

Company replied

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

When you phone there rude they don't care if you have mental health or children in the property they think they can bully and scare people by banging on doors and be intimidating Try set you high... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Heartless bullies. Aggressive phone call with one track statement "pay in full". Disregarding the fact I am a vulnerable person, to the point it was dismissed entirely and just repeated "pay in full,... See more

Company replied

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Very nasty company who uses bullying tactics to force you into paying something you cannot pay. Do not care about your personal circumstances and how you can raise money you simply have not got but t... See more


Company details

Written by the company

Bristow & Sutor is a leading provider of debt resolution services for local authority and public sector clients. We have a proven track record in delivering outstanding service and driving excellent results, in an efficient and ethical way. We are proud members of the Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation, (IRRV), British Parking Association (BPA) and Civil Enforcement Association (CIVEA).


Contact info

1.3

Bad

TrustScore 1.5 out of 5

880 reviews

5-star
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1-star

No recent history of asking for reviews

This company hasn't invited customers recently, so reviews may not be representative

Replied to 41% of negative reviews

Typically replies within 2 weeks

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1.3

All reviews

(880)

147 reviews in the last 12 months

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Companies on Trustpilot aren't allowed to offer incentives or pay to hide reviews. Reviews are the opinions of individual users and not of Trustpilot. Read more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

This Company does not follow ANY…

This Company does not follow ANY correct procedures. You receive no correspondence until they threaten to clamp your car! If you try and pay online, their payment website is unsafe so you can’t access it.
I felt sorry for the agent who came to my house actually, but these people are enabling this criminal activity, which is everything that’s wrong with this country.
The owner of the company has a criminal record which you can view online. He also works from home s you can hear his kids screaming in the background. Again, everything that’s wrong with this country!

August 2, 2025
Unprompted review
Bristow & Sutor logo

Reply from Bristow & Sutor

Hi,
I am sorry to hear of your experience, I have sent you an information request via Trustpilot so we can assist you further.

Thanks
Bristow and Sutor

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I found Kim who I spoke to very helpful…

I found Kim who I spoke to very helpful and set up a payment plan with no problems

August 1, 2025
Unprompted review
Bristow & Sutor logo

Reply from Bristow & Sutor

Hi,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a positive review. I will pass your kind words on to Kim’s manager.

Thanks
Bristow and Sutor

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I don't know how this company can say…

I don't know how this company can say they are ethical - disgusting to receive such threatening letters from them, received a letter on 31stJuly demanding we pay on 30th July the day before, put us straight into arrears with no compassion just awful how the government can use an organisation like this is criminal.

July 31, 2025
Unprompted review
Bristow & Sutor logo

Reply from Bristow & Sutor

Hi,
I am sorry to hear of your experience. If you give the contact centre a call, one of our team would be more than happy to assist.

0330 390 2010

Thanks
Bristow and Sutor

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

The way I was spoken to today by Paul…

The way I was spoken to today by Paul the enforcement officer was unbelievable what a vile rude man embarrassing that he represents your company so unprofessional . I understand he had a job to do but his attitude and tone is not appropriate or acceptable . my mistake I didn’t pay 100% take full responsibility and paid in full straight away today when I received the letter but the way Paul spoke to me was unbelievable I’m lucky and grateful that I could pay and rectify my mistake but I worry for people who can’t and need surport too . Total rudeness from the start of the phone call you really should give him some coaching because that could make someone who is suffering with mental health suffer more unnecessarily worse it’s shameful and when I complained and asked for the phone call to be listened back by a manager I was told managers don’t talk to customers . I am genuinely worried about the wellbeing of other people who have to deal with Paul .

The comment below from them over a week ago still haven’t contacted me !!!!

July 22, 2025
Unprompted review
Bristow & Sutor logo

Reply from Bristow & Sutor

Hi ,
I am sorry to hear of your experience with Paul, the behaviour you mention is not reflective of how our staff are trained. We would like the opportunity to assist further on this matter, I have sent you an information request via Trustpilot.

Thanks
Bristow & Sutor

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Vile behaviour by contact centre staff…

Vile behaviour by contact centre staff Sean and Wendy. Behaviour so poor I was left unable to decide if it was a scam. Both denied I had made other prior arrangements with an doorstep enforcement agent saying they overule his decisions. Please somebody stop this company from causing huge stress to people for the minor infringement of a parking ticket. Can't believe my local authority North Tyneside Council has a contract with these people. Can't get any answers of how they obtained my phone number and email.

July 22, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Today someone came to my house I wasn’t…

Today someone came to my house I wasn’t at home by the name of mr reader they are such
Thieves so much pressure they did to me and they don’t have money and they pressured me and my wife they said give 590 pounds from my bank by force and took nearly 600 pounds for no reason for there dodgy company and they threatened me for police and there doing this for no reason they told me that there going to take everything my car my house for no reason never give them money I’m not even from this country and they pressured us to be honest if they try to charge you don’t give money let them call the police there not gonna do anything no one should believe these guys never ever

July 17, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

You don't expect great reviews for a…

You don't expect great reviews for a debt firm but I had a debt for the Dartford tunnel (£3 + £3) because my card had been changed on auto pay. This went into a dbt of £386 to BS (very apt!!). I paid £193 so showing willing to pay the debt with a view to squaring the rest off this week. Then get a guy at my door looking for £428!! £193+£235!!! Spoke to him, good as gold. Spoke to the office!!! What a shower of shit. Don't even want to hear reason unwilling to understand that effort was being made to settle....shocking firm but what do you expect. Just looking to bleed you dry, as is the case in all aspects of this country now.... not impressed.....;

July 15, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Thank you Louise

I’m having a really difficult time at the moment - I’m struggling to cope and of course being contacted by an enforcement agent is really scary. I wasn’t expecting much when I called, but Louise completely changed that. She was kind, calm, and genuinely seemed to care - no script, no pressure, just a real person treating me like a human being. She gave me some space to breathe and I honestly came off the call feeling lighter. Louise is an asset to Bristow & Sutor

July 14, 2025
Unprompted review
Bristow & Sutor logo

Reply from Bristow & Sutor

Hi Jacob,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a positive review. I will pass your kind words on to Louise’s manager.

Thanks
Bristow and Sutor

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

They shouldn't be in business

They have made it deliberately difficult to engage with them, I am very dubious about the dating of their letters, eg I receive the letter a week after it was sent etc. The agent clearly deals with furious people every day (understandable, it’s a vile business model), but was helpful. Usually your beef is with the organisation that engages them, but still, awful.

July 9, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

What an awful company

What an awful company. The only thing I will say is that the enforcement agent actually was approachable and keen to resolve this situation.
Staff on the phone sound like they are lounging around on the sofa, no interest in speaking to you or trying to resolve anything.
The whatsapp number is a joke, no one bothers to call you back once you send an email.
I understand that this shouldn't have got to this stage anyway, it's my own fault however, highways have not done a good job appointing this company.

July 8, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I cant believe that my local council…

I cant believe that my local council has hired these rogues ! They want x10 more then my original /just a stupid and unfair parking charge/ sum ....council terrorising its citizens...They warned me that they will clamp my car / which belongs to the financial company not to me / !! How I am going to go to work if I dont have car -will have to live on benefits -which the council need to pay me ,ok .

July 5, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Dirty thieving scumbags

Dirty thieving scumbags,
Sending out fake penalty charges in the hope that people get scared and just pay the charge.
Please come to my property and we’ll deal with it like proper men

July 1, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

A company lead by Criminals

I received a phone call from Bristow and Sutor ( dept collector’s. They said to me that I have a £992 fine to pay. They said they have sent many letters out. It turns out the address that the Traffic enforcement centre and the dept collector’s sent the letters to doesn’t even exist.

Ive been advised that this is definitely fault of the traffic enforcement centre.
I’m currently in the process of taking them to court.
I recommend to anyone in this situation to go straight to citizens advise.
Don’t even attempt to ring the traffic enforcement centre, they are very rude and hostile and when you eventually get through they just hang up the phone.
As for Bristow and Sutor, I can say for sure it’s run by ex convicts. Extremely rude and disgusting people. Caroline at first seemed to be rude and hostile and threatening. Once I paid the fine she seemed to be a little bit human.
I might also add that I received verbal threats that they would come to my house at nighttime, that was just one of many threats !!!
Shame on you….
UPDATE
Currently in the process of taking these criminals to court as they made many mistakes. If your documents are all up to date and this company still manage to send letters to an address you have never lived at. You will Win.

February 4, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Bailiff arrived at my house today I…

Bailiff arrived at my house today I informed them that I was not in the country and they kept pestering me with text messages I offered to sort payment when I get home he said “the case NEEDS to be resolved in 2 hours” I offered to sort when I get back home that was also refused. My daughter is at home on her own and now feels intimidated and anxious about them turning up again. James Ryan the bailiff had made my dogs so worked up by banging on the door they ended up ripping my curtains and falling off the sofa which could have caused serious injuries to them. When I get home and my dogs are harmed in anyway I will be making sure they are held accountable for it. I have pictures of the damage. Their supposed to be Ethically Focused this couldn’t be more further from the truth. They are nothing helpful they are bullies

July 2, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Still harrassing us even though we have offered to set up payment plan on a debt that isnt ours. Refusing to set up payment plan until been allowed into property with vulnerable children there

Still harrassing us even though we have shown evidence of vulnerabilty, Autistic child in the house and not at any point said We won't pay.( Even though this is a debt left from previous house owner) Just demanding to come into the house before they will set up a payment plan. Bullying and after stating struggles with mental health was spoken to like dirt with no empathy. I didnt want to give 1 star but doenst seem to allow you not to rate them. Bullies, rude, purposely ignoring correspondence and trying to belittle and We will be taking this further. No regard for vulnerable children in the property and when I told the agent I wasn't about to let a man I don't know into the property when I am there alone with children I was told basically that there was no problem with doing that and they weren't exactly asking much of me . This will be taken much further.

July 1, 2025
Unprompted review
Bristow & Sutor logo

Reply from Bristow & Sutor

Hi Lucy,

I am sorry to hear of your experience. If you give the contact centre a call, one of our team would be more than happy to assist.

Alternatively, I have sent you an information request via Trustpilot so we can assist you further.

0330 390 2010

Thanks
Bristow and Sutor

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Yet again using bullying tactics

Yet again using bullying tactics rather than actually talking to try and settle the debt. I used the live chat and started speaking to someone called Amy. When I explained that I'd previously made an offer to repay, she just said that my case is being dealt with by someone else, and gave me a number to phone. I asked to to put this person on to the live chat, and she just closed down the chat, I couldn't even get a transcript of the chat. Luckily I took screenshots throughout, so at least have evidence for the courts.
It's 2025 and this shower don't even know how to communicate digitally. It's almost as if they don't want people to have records of their communication with them

June 30, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Very aggressive enforcement tactics

Very aggressive enforcement tactics.

Rude staff on the phone. Not helpful in setting up an affordable payment plan.

I missed their £67 payment that they wanted, sent £100 the following week, then received a text stating they know my vehicle details and an enforcement team will attend my property imminently unless I “Pay what I owe immediately”.

Absolute scum over a remaining debt of £160 from a missed CAZ charge.

Hope they sleep well at night

July 1, 2025
Unprompted review
Bristow & Sutor logo

Reply from Bristow & Sutor

Hi Mr Brandon,

I am sorry to hear of your experience. If you give the contact centre a call, one of our team would be more than happy to assist. Alternatively, I have sent you an information request via Trustpilot so we can assist you further.

0330 390 2010

Thanks
Bristow and Sutor

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